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Orlando Officers Support LGBTQ+

While in the city last month for the 10th annual Toronto Emergency Management Symposium at the Toronto Police College, the Toronto Police Service LGBTQ-ISN hosted Orlando Police Chief John Mina and Lieutenant James Young for a series of events.

Chief John Mina speaks about the Pulse nightclub shooting response at 14 Division

Young was the LBGT liaison officer in Orlando at the time of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in June 2016 that claimed 49 lives.

He visited the memorial at The 519 Community Centre and met the artist who created a wooden panel mural as a memorial to the victims of the attack.

Janet Romero-Leiva explained to Young that the shooting affected many in the LatinX and LGBTQ+ communities.

Young was also the guest of honour at a Coffee with Cops event at the Second Cup on Church St. He spoke to the Church-Wellesley Business Improvement Area members at the event attended by nearly 150 local community members.

On November 16, Mina was the presenter at the LGBTQ-ISN Lunch & Learn where he spoke about the impact the Pulse shooting had on him, his police department and the community.

“Putting rainbow colours on a police vehicle, along with the names of every single victim, was a powerful symbol,” he said. “In the past, we would not have put a rainbow ribbon on our uniforms, but now we do it with pride.”

At a funeral of one of the victims that Mina attended, there were anti-gay protestors.

“I went and hugged every gay person I could find,” he said. “We decided not be defined by that act, but by our response.”

Young knew the nightclub owners and several of the victims who were killed.

“I tried to show up and do the best job I could,” he said. “We know that the shooting had a large impact on the LGBT community, not just in Orlando but elsewhere. I can tell you I have been around the world and I have never seen so many rainbow flags flying as I did after Pulse.”

The TPS LGBTQ-ISN made a donation to the Orlando Ribbon Project campaign.